KEY evidence by former royal butler Paul Burrell is being examined by detectives investigating the death of Princess Diana.

As new clues emerge into the crash which killed the Princess, Scotland Yard has confirmed it has spoken to Burrell to learn about life with Diana.

Burrell, who runs a flower shop in Holt, near Wrexham, made headlines a few years ago when he released a letter to a newspaper purporting to be from Diana, claiming a senior royal was plotting to kill her in a car crash.

Last night, a spokesman for Burrell said he had been quizzed by Scotland Yard and confirmed that the letter was now in the hands of senior detectives.

The princess' former bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones from Oswestry, who was in the Mercedes when it crashed in Paris in 1997 killing Diana, boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, is also said to have been quizzed.

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Last night, Burrell's spokesman Steve Dennis said: "Paul has been spoken to by Scotland Yard. He was the closest person to the Princess. He is a key witness due to his knowledge and his close relationship with the Princess.

"Paul has co-operated fully with the investigation and has answered their questions."

News of Burrell's involvement comes just weeks after a senior detective leading the official inquiry said new forensic evidence and fresh witnesses had been uncovered.

But Lord John Stevens, former head of the Metropolitan Police, has refused to elaborate further on the findings of the two-year inquiry, which is due to release its findings next year.